Improvement in washing-machines



T. E. McDONALD.

Washing-Machines.

Patented Dec. 22,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MCDONALD, OF NEW BRUNSVVIOK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,922, dated December22, 1874 application filed October 31, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MCDON- ALD, of New Brunswick, in thecounty of Middlesex, in the State of New Jersey, have made certainImprovements in Machines for Washing Clothes, of which the following isa upon which the supporting-rollers of the washing-machine travel. B isa removable lower frame, containing a series of revolving rollers. b bare two transverse rollers on the-under side of and attached to thelower frame B, and travel upon ways a. b b b are transverse flutedrevolving rollers in frame B. I)

b b are another series of transverse flutedrevolving rollers journaledin the same frame, and alternate with rollers b, but are out of linewith them on their upper sides, as seen in Fig. 3. b is a bail at theforward end of frame B, to remove it from the water-box when necessary.The frame B is reeiprocated longitudinally on the ways a. O is the upperreciprocating removable frame, and has also a series of transverserollers, c c, c c, and c". c c are the outside or end rollers, and areplain or smooth on their surfaces. 0 c are fluted intermediate rollers,and drop lower down than the end rollers c. c is the center roller inframe 0, on the same line with rollers c, and has a spiral groove cutaround it from end to end. D is a lever, pivoted at d to a rod thatpasses transversely across the box A, and its bottom end freely enteringinto'and taking hold of staple d, that is fast in the end of frame B, asseen in Fig. 3, and by which means the said frame B, with its rollers,is reciprocated longitudinally. c is a removable rod, connected with theframe 0 at its forward end, at e,

and with the hand-lever D by one of a series of holes, 0, so that moreor less throw may be given to frame G. F F are spring-arms, pivoted tothe inside of the box A, at f, and carry roller f at their forward ends.f are springs secured longitudinally to the top of frame 0, and uponwhich the roller f bears as the frame 0 reeiprocates. g is a transverserod connecting and holding the two spring arms F in position upon thejournals f. h h are two pins that pass through holes h in the sides ofthe water-box, and bear upon the top of arms F, and by which thepressure on the frame 0 is regulated by adjusting pins h in differentholes lb. The two frames B and O, with their rollers, are removable bydisconnecting rod 0 from frame 0 and lever D, and turning up arms F withroller j.

When frame B is in position, and water in the box, the clothes orarticles to be washed are placed upon the rollers of frame B. Then frame0 is placed upon the clothes or article; the arm F, with its roller j",turned down, so that the rollers bear upon the springs f, and the pins hover the arms F, to give the necessary pressure, and rod 6 in place, byvibrating the upper end of hand-lever 1) longitudinally, willreciprocate the two framesone frame,B, in one direction, and frame 0 inthe opposite direction-and at the same time the rollers in each frame,being out of line, will give to frame 0, in addition to a horizontalreciprocating motion, a rising-and-falling motion as it passes over therollers of frame B. This rising-and-talling motion is due to therelative position of the rollers in frames B and G being out of line, ora part upon one line, and the others upon another line, which may becalled zigzag in position, and its effects upon the articles beingwashed are much greater than if all the rollers in the two frames werein line with each other, as the rollers of the upper frame, in passingover the rollers, and the articles being washed on the lower frame, comein contact with much more of the surface of such articles than if therollers in each frame were in line or on the same plane.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is Q teases 1. In awashing-machine, the combination 3. In a Washing-machine, areciprocating of the two frames B and (J, reciprocating in frame havingtwo sets of rollers, 0 and 0, the opposite directions, with rollers, theaxes of axes of which are in ditferent planes, substanwhich are indifferent planes, substantially as tially as and for the purposedescribed. and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the lever D rod 6, THOMAS MCDONALD pressure-armsF, and resser-roller f, and Witnesses: springs f" with the frames 13 andO, substan- REUBEN Gr. VAN PELT, tially as and for the purposedescribed. EDWARD W. STRONG.

